BJP workers vandalise Pandian's residence

The BJP workers on Saturday barged into the official residence of Mr.Pandian, threw cow dung and ransack flower pots a vehicle Mr Mohanty also alleged that Mr Kuttey had already converted over 500 police stations of the state into BJD Party office and Mr Das was looking after the organizational and election management of the party. The Commissionerate Police has taken the matter very seriously.

Accusing Pandian, his wife and IAS officer Sujata Karthikeyan, D.S. Kutey, IPS, Officer on Special Duty to CM and Gopabandhu Dash, OAS, Joint Secretary to CM of working for the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the saffron party has demanded their dismissal. Stringent action will be taken against those who are involved in the incident.

BJD spokesperson and parliamentarian Pratap Deb said the attack was "unfortunate and it exposed the real mindset of BJP leaders". Four people have been arrested, senior police officer YB Khurania said.

Deb said the BJP is indulging in such violence in the State with an intention to delay or postpone the scheduled February 24 Bijepur Assembly by-election as the party fears to lose poll battle. Mr Pandian was not present when the incident took place.

The incident was widely condemned by the CM, the Congress and associations of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Odisha Administrative Service officers. "Time has come to initiate strong action", said Dev. While Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik described the incident as shocking, Leader of the Opposition Narasingh Mishra said BJP's attempt to come to power in Odisha through violence and hooliganism will never be successful.

Samajwadi Party State president Rabi Behera, in a letter to DG of Police RP Sharma, demanded that the BJP attackers be booked under the National Security Act (NSA). "The protest against him has intensified".